On October 23 the RA National Assembly President Hovik Abrahamyan received the delegation of the Swiss businessmen. Welcoming the guests Hovik Abrahamyan expressed satisfaction in connection with the businessmen’s visit to Armenia. In the NA President’s word, during the recent years a political dialogue of high level had been shaped between Armenia and Switzerland and unprecedented development of relations had been registered.
Touching upon the tangible enlivening of bilateral relations during the recent period Hovik Abrahamyan highlighted especially the role of inter-parliamentary cooperation. Highly appreciating the effective cooperation of Friendship Groups in the parliaments of Armenia and Switzerland, the NA President expressed confidence that using at utmost the opportunities of parliamentary diplomacy, they would continue to make their contribution to the development of bilateral and multilateral relations. It has been noted that the Armenia-Switzerland Parliamentary Group carries out effective activity also in the direction of reinforcement and development of trade-economic ties. Nevertheless, as to Hovik Abrahamyan, the levels of trade-economic cooperation and political relations are inadequate, there exists big potential, and from this perspective the visit of the delegation of the Swiss businessmen to Armenia is emphasized.
In the name of the delegation thanking for the warm reception Guy Mettan, Chairman of the Switzerland-CIS Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and deputy of Geneva Cantonal Parliament has highlighted the close relations that exist between the two countries. In his word, the delegation’s visit to Armenia aims at further deepening of those ties, especially further enlivening of cooperation in the economic and cultural spheres. He also highlighted the activity of Friendship Groups in the parliaments of Switzerland and Armenia, noting that gradually the economic component is given a big place in it. Guy Mettan has noted by opening of the Embassy of the Swiss Confederation to Armenia a new phase has begun in bilateral relations: it is characterized by establishing and strengthening especially economic and cultural ties.
In the establishment of friendship and mutual trust between the two countries both sides the role of the Armenian community of Switzerland was stressed. It was noted with satisfaction that Luc Barthassat, member of Switzerland-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group, as well as business representatives of Swiss Armenian communities were a part of the delegation.
Luc Barthassat noted that they were impressed by their visit to Armenia, productive meetings, from which they expect practical results. He said that this time they would not miss the opportunity to visit Nagorno Karabakh.
In connection with this, the NA President welcomed the visit of Switzerland-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group paid recently to Nagorno Karabakh, which was a good opportunity to get acquainted with the situation on the spot and form an objective stance.
The members of the delegation and the Armenia-Switzerland Parliamentary Friendship Group attending the meeting also presented their approaches in terms of bilateral relationship.